How Crude – Products Made From a Barrel of Oil

With the epic Gulf spill, courtesy of BP, oil has been thrust into the spotlight – and frankly, it’s been getting a bad rap. Let’s not forget about all the great things oil does for us – although it’s pretty hard while you’re watching birds and baby dolphins wash up on the beaches.

The Daily Green has broken down what a barrel of oil that holds 44 gallons of crude turns into, and illustrated what happens to it. Basically, you get 18.56 gallons of gasoline, 10.31 gallons of diesel and 4.07 gallons of jet fuel. The other seven gallons are allocated to the “Other Products” category – but what these mystery products?

For starters, petroleum is used to make plastics. But a few things you may not have been aware of include antifreeze, anesthetics, synthetic rubber and glycerin. To keep food fresh as well as make medicines, you’ll find petroleum-based ingredients listed on the label. You’ll even find it in house and car paint and laundry detergent. Another surprising fact for you: according to Energy Information Administration, making the above products consumes more than 1 million barrels of oil per day.

Yes, we are very dependent on oil, although there are more electric and hybrid vehicles on the road. What’s clear is that it’s going to be awhile before we can get this monkey off our backs. Do you think the oil spill will force companies and governments to find crude oil alternatives or will things carry on as before?

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